Wiki 93970 vs 93971

[dmccullers]

Can someone tell me exactly what is required to be scanned to be able to bill cpt code 93970? We have been billing 93970 for ALL bilateral duplex ultrasound and I think this has been incorrect. I think some should have been coded as 93971. With that said if we are doing a limited bilateral duplex ultrasound, would we bill 93971 mod 50?

 

[ardithch]

CPT 93970 is for duplex scan of the arms or leg veins, complete bilateral study. If you are doing both arms or both legs, you do not append the modifier 50 because this is already part of the code.

CPT 93971 is for duplex scan of the arms or leg veins, unilateral or limited study. If you are doing only one side or did not complete all the components of the study then you would use this code. Do not report it with the 50 modifier.

If you are doing arterial studies then look at 93922-93933.

Hope this helps!

Ardith, CGSC